Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas Discuss DWTS Elimination

Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas recently talked about their surprising exit from *Dancing with the Stars* during an appearance on the podcast “Call Her Daddy.”

Even though they consistently received high scores from the judges during the season, they were unexpectedly eliminated in the semifinals of Season 34. Leavitt, known for her role in *Secrets of a Mormon Wife*, struggled with fan votes and faced backlash due to her dance background.

Responding to questions from host Alex Cooper, Leavitt brushed off the criticism. She pointed out that while she holds a degree in modern dance from Brigham Young University, the dance style featured on *DWTS* felt quite different to her. “It’s very new for me to dance with my partner in this position; it’s completely different,” she explained. “Of course, that background helped me learn different techniques, but this was still very new to me.”

Leavitt also mentioned that after having three children, she had taken a break from dancing. “I’d love to take a class once in a while, but no, I wasn’t actively dancing,” she admitted.

Ballas highlighted that many previous *DWTS* seasons have included contestants with dance experience, citing past winners like Nicole Scherzinger and Jordan Fisher. He remarked how Leavitt’s natural performance ability made her stand out. “She’s a dynamic performer, but that’s something I can’t teach,” he said.

The discussion shifted when Ballas shared how the negativity directed at both him and Leavitt impacted him this season. He pointed out that Leavitt had been criticized for sharing that she returned to reality TV only to audition for *DWTS*.

He expressed that, unlike previous seasons, he hadn’t seen fans actively voting against other couples like this before. Ballas got emotional discussing the hateful comments aimed at him, including insults like “dishonest” and “worthless,” with some even wishing he would “burn in hell.”

Leavitt commented that she didn’t participate in the voting frenzy due to such hostility, but was simply eager to join a fun dance competition that brings joy.

Though used to online hate, Leavitt found it shocking to witness how it affected Ballas. When Cooper asked her for a message to haters, she playfully replied, “I don’t know, because what I’m trying to say is, ‘Forget you,’” sharing a laugh with Ballas.

Many fans were disappointed that Leavitt, one of the strongest dancers technically, and Ballas didn’t get to perform their freestyle dance in the finals, which was set to be one of the season’s highlights.

Interestingly, the podcast and ABC created a stage for them to showcase their freestyle routine, where they danced to Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” Leavitt wore a showgirl costume before changing into a dazzling long-sleeved leotard and applied red lipstick during a dramatic moment in the performance, which concluded with the message, “Social media is bad for your health.”

In the end, Robert Irwin took home the Mirrorball Trophy with his partner Witney Carson, following a thrilling three-hour finale. Irwin, a frontrunner throughout the season, spoke highly of his sister Bindi Irwin, who won the same trophy with partner Derek Hough in 2015.

Irwin expressed that following in his sister’s footsteps meant everything to him. “This completely changed my life,” he shared with an outlet after the finale. He connected his sister’s win to their family’s efforts in conservation, stating, “It’s about making the world a better place.”